A HINDU TRACT

A Brahmin, fat and debonair,
Denied the Potency of Prayer!

" Absurd! " he scoffed, " to say that Gods
At ease on high would stoop to Clods

" And heed our million warring Prayers
To regulate our small Affairs! "

This Dogmatist of early days
Was lost within a jungle's maze,

Where, wildly ranging wide about
To find a pathway leading out,

Upon a Forest Godling's Shrine
He chanced, o'erhung with leaf and vine,

And — wonder! horror! — crouching there
A mighty Tiger, bowed in prayer!

(Tail curled, as may be well supposed,
Paws folded, eyes devoutly closed).

" Strong God, " he heard the Tiger say,
" I pray thee, send to me a Prey! "

The trustful Tiger closed his Prayer. —
Behold! a Brahmin trembling there!

The Brahmin never scoffed a whit.
The Prayer had Answer — He was It .